Ruger Not So Precision Rifle

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Fire306

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So, I wanted a new toy, and had read a ton of reviews about the Ruger RPR and thought, it would fit the bill.
Picked up a new RPR in 243 (prefer the 6.5, but already had everything for 243, and tons of 6mm bullets) last week.
New Lapua brass, tons of different Bergers and Hornady bullets, and reloading bench ready.

Started with Berger 95 gr Classic hunters, went to 105 hybrids, and to some 115gr Berger Hunting bullets. So far have stuck to H4831sc and H1000
After reading pages and pages of reviews on these rifles, I had high expectations of decent groups, I say decent, because lets face it, this is a $1500 prefab "precision rifle".
Well so far, tested 14 different loads now, and the groups have been far below my expectations. Poor to say the least. Only one load so far shot decent at .784" 5 shot @ 100 yards.
But with 13 other loads grouping as big as 3" @ 100 yards, that one good 5 shot group could have been a fluke. Several of the loads will shot 3 of 5 rounds touching then sling 2 all over the place.

I am not proclaiming that I myself am a match grade shooter, but I do know how to shoot groups, in many, many rifles. I have several rifles and loads that produce 1/2" or better groups, with my personal best groups in the .1's, and very repeatable in the .2's" So I am being bold enough to say it's not me.

I handload everything, for every rifle I have every had, so I'm confident in my reloading capabilities. So I am at a loss, did I get the one RPR that is a 3 minute rifle?

Anyways, just venting after a disappointing trip to the range again today. Back to the reloading bench to try something different.

Edit, I should also add, I have gone over this rifle several times now, everything is tight, the optics are top notch, temporarily borrowed from a very accurate 6XC custom I have, Leupold Mark 4 Er/T 6.5-20x50, so it's not poor optics.
 
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That is very disappointing, when I was looking for the RPR I wasn't going to consider anything but the 6.5

Maybe you have a lemon, or is the 6.5 that more accurate of a round then the .243 and .308?
 
I have read about people adjusting the barrel nuts or something along those lines to tighten the barrels against the actions and they shoot a lot better, it was a 243 specific issue.
Do more research as my ramblings are clearly un informative.
 
CanuckR said:
I have read about people adjusting the barrel nuts or something along those lines to tighten the barrels against the actions and they shoot a lot better, it was a 243 specific issue.
Do more research as my ramblings are clearly un informative.
Click to expand...

This is interesting because my gut instinct is telling me something is wrong with headspacing. The chamber seems tight. Bolt lockup has random tight bolt lockup. I measured all my brass, and it is under spec (brand new, first firing), though there is a shiny mark on the front edge of the neck on all the cases, like they need trimmed.
 
Sorry, I don't really have any input. But I must say, this thread has one of the funniest titles I've seen. I laughed so hard, beer came up through my nose.

Sorry.
 
I'm not familiar with those powders and .243. I have reloaded and shot a .243 since the 80s. Maybe try 4895 or IMR 4064, Varget?

1/8 twist should favor heavy for caliber. Mine(Stevens) is 1/10 I believe and it like 100 gr. Less weight and it gets squirrelly.
 
Maybe that's why they are not making 243s any more. Ruger stopped producing the original RPRs a few months ago. Now they are only making the enhanced versions which only come in 6.5 and 308
 
My .308 stock barrel shot ok, but the headspace from the factory was tight, it wouldn't even close on a go gauge, I would have had to force it to close.
 
I have the RPR in 308, first time out with Virgin Lapua brass I was not that impressed either, but after getting the brass fire formed and trimmed I can put 5 under 1/2 inch at 200 yards. Lapua did have an issue late last year or early this year with uneven neck tension for some reason (info from another form) so that could be the issue. First I have heard of an issue with the barrel nut but I will be checking mine now as well.
 
Thanks for the replies thus far.
The first group of loads I tried, I was using brass that had been fired, and then resized in another 243. (I always full length resize, but set dies to bump shoulder .001" maybe .002" max)
I noticed that most of those loads were tight to chamber. So the second batch of loads I used new, unfired Lapua brass. I did measure the new brass and compared to the brass fired in the RPR in the first range trip. The shoulders on the new brass was nearly identical height maybe .0005" shorter. This was just a few of the examples I measured, I am thinking now, maybe some were slightly longer and causing the heavier bolt close some shots. This could definitely explain the fliers.
Also did a lot of reading on the hide forum last night and it seems there is quite a few experiencing the tight chamber and especially with new Lapua brass.
So, on my next reloads, I will attempt to bump the shoulders back .001-.002" from their fire-formed size now. I may also trim the brass slightly, even though 243 minimum is 2.035" and my brass now only measures 2.032". I will also order a go-no-go gauges for 243, as well as a barrel wrench.

Not something I would expect to encounter in a new rifle, but I always enjoy a challenge, challenge accepted.
 
I had one in .243 and it was great. You just got a lemon. It happens. I made sure that when I bought it, that if it did not group well, that I would be able to return it. It is after all a 'precision' rifle, and if it is not precise, it is defective. Cabela's said no problem. I didn't have to return it.
 
Did you check to muzzle to make sure there were no burrs or scratches?

My .308 is fairly accurate for a rifle in this price point and it's probably a decent foundation for a mid grade PR build. A Panda or Barnard action it is not, and never will be.
I'll bet if you put a good aftermarket barrel on it, you would be impressed.
 
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